As I previously wrote about, the departure of DeMarco Murray shook up the NFC East in a big way this offseason. Here is What To Expect From DeMarco Murray In Philadelphia.
But how about our Cowboys, now relying on Joseph Randle and long-time Raider Darren McFadden?
Randle showed flashes of serious talent last season running behind DeMarco Murray.
He touched the ball 51 times, accumulating 343 yards. His ability to make people miss may even be better than Murray’s. We know one thing for certain, and it is that he will be running behind one of the best offensive lines in football.
Dallas fans should be excited to see Randle carry a larger workload. Randle will be able to get into defensive secondaries very quickly and show off his abilities in space.
The only question that remains is his durability, which is something that even the uber-physical DeMarco Murray struggled with late in 2014.
This is where veteran Darren McFadden comes in.
While playing in Oakland for the past seven seasons, McFadden averaged just 51.2 yards per game.
However, the speedy back will be playing on his first ever contending team – and one with a much more balanced offense. This will also be, undoubtedly, the best offensive line McFadden has run behind in his career.
It is unclear exactly what role McFadden will hold with this team, but he will likely see a similar number of carries to Randle.
He should be hungry to seize this opportunity, and Cowboys fans should be just as excited for his potential as a runner and pass catcher.
The Cowboys ran the football 508 times last season, which led to their first 12 win season since 2007. To make another playoff run in 2015, this team must stay committed to those rushing numbers.
With McFadden and Randle splitting this workload, I expect the Cowboys offense to be one of the most balanced and dangerous attacks in the league.
The season very well could come down to Randle and McFadden’s ability to succeed over a long stretch, with the Cowboys facing the Jets and Bills in weeks 15 and 16.
Both the Jets and Bills present a strong rushing defense, and both games will likely be crucial to the Cowboys NFC East hopes.
Will Randle and McFadden be able to replace DeMarco Murray? Let me know below or on Twitter @ShoreSportsNJ!
